Revoluble sign structure



G. cAsTlLLN l REvoLUBL SIGN sTmJoTUREv July 25, 1939.

Filed Nov. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIII www @a afferma o/Uez az'ZZon July 25, 1939- es. l.. cAsTlLLN 2,167,563

REVOLUBLE SIGN STRUCTURE I Filed Nov. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 -LZ- l @u z'ZZe rmoo/vez QSZ'ZZ n Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orner.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a revoluble sign structure for displaying illuminable advertising matter.

The invention aims to provide, in a manner as 5 hereinafter set forth, a structure of the class referred to carrying a series of spaced advertisements and capable of being intermittently revolved and intermittently illuminated for displaying, during each revolution thereof, each advertisement at a different display position, stationary for a predetermined period while under a state of illumination whereby the advertisements will be distinctly displayed in an attractive manner. l5 The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sign structure which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, readily assembled, thoroughly eiiicient in its use and comparatively inf expensive to manufacture.

Embodying the foregoing aims essentially and to others which may directly or indirectly hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, out it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sign structure anchored in suspended relation with respect to the front of a support, which may be the front of a commercial establishment,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in vertical section of the sign structure,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional detail,

Figure '7 is a sectional plan of a modified form of carrier, and

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 Figure 1 upon a scale larger than the scale of Figure 1.

The sign structure includes an upstanding revoluble hollow, frame-like carrier of any suitable polygonal contour, and which has as a part of each side thereof a panel provided with advertising matter tobe displayed and illuminated. These panels will be formed of any suitable material having the advertising provided thereon in a manner to be readily visible. The panels and the advertising matter will be such that the latter may be illuminated whereby it will be distinctly displayed in an attractive manner. By way of example, the advertising matter on a panel may be translucent or transparent and the remaining portion of the panel opaque, or the advertising matter opaque, and the remaining portion of the panel translucent. It is to be understood, however, the matter to be displayed is to be formed on the panel in any suitable manner. The carrier, designated 6 is of square contour in cross section to provide it with four sides. The carrier, designated Ea' is of hexagonal contour in cross section to provide it with six sides. 'I'he panels will be referred to as display elements.

The carrier 5 includes a hollow revoluble body part 'l having each of its sides lengthwise thereof and between its upper and lower ends formed with a rectangular opening B, a flanged top wall 9 mounted on the upper end of and detachably connected in any suitable manner to body part l', a flanged bottom wall I0 mounted on the lower end 'of and detachably connected in any suitable manner to the body part 1, and display elements or panels II, I2, I3, and I4 positioned in body part 'l against the inner faces of the sides of the latter and extending completely across the openings 8.

The said elements are of a length to extend from the top wall 9 to the bottom wall I9. The elements I I, I3 are disposed in parallel spaced relation and are of a width corresponding to the distance between a pair of opposed sides of body part l. The panels I2, Ill are of less width than, arranged between, and are disposed in abutting relation with respect to the panels II, I3. The walls 9, IIJ are formed with aligned openings I5, I5 respectively.

The carrier 6a is constructed in the same manner as the carrier 6, with the differences that carrier 6a isformed with six apertured sides Il and six display elements I8 arranged against the inner faces of the sides I'I in lengthwise edge abutment. Otherwise than that as stated, the carrier 6a will be of the same construction as the carrier 6.

Secured to the lower face of bottom wall Il) is the top ange I9 of a vertically disposed revoluble socket forming member having its inner face registering with and forming a downward continuation of the wall of opening I6. The holdfast devices 2| secure flange I9 to wall IG. There is associated with carrier 6 an upstanding stationary shaft 22 about which walls 9, I9 and member 20 revolve. The shaft 22 is disposed axially of body part I and is of a length to extend from 5:

the bottom 23 of member 20 through openings i5 and i6 to a point above wall 9.

The lower end of member is mounted upon bearing balls 24 carried by a bearing structure 25, arranged within a stationary housing 26, and anchored to the top of a supporting base 21 for housing 26. The lower end of housing 26 is open and said housing is anchored to the said base.

The carrier 6 is enclosed by and revolves within the housing 26. The latter is of a contour corresponding to the contour of the carrier and has a pair of opposed open sides and a pair of opposed non-open sides, whereby when the carrier is given an impulse, a

pair of opposed display elements will be made visible and the other pair of opposed display elements concealed. The housing is closed at its upper end and is of greater height than the carrier. The interior dimensions of the housing 26 are materially greater than the exterior dimensions of carrier 5. The latter is permanently spaced from the housing.

The upper end of shaft 22 is mounted in the reduced lower portion of a bracket 21a secured to and depending from the lower face of the closed top of housing 25. Fixed to the shaft 22 between the top of carrier 6 and the top of housing 2S is a vertically adjustable laterally disposed support 28 for a pair of spaced binding posts 29, 30 located in the illuminating circuit for an illuminable element to be referred to. The said circuit leads from a power circuit for a motor to be referred to.

The upper terminal portion of shaft 22 is V formed with a socket 3| opening at the upper end of the shaft. The latter is formed with an opening 32 which communicates with the socket 3|. Fixedly suspended from shaft 22 and disposed lengthwise of and in spaced relation thereto is an illuminable means, which by way of example is shown as consisting of a pair of electrically connected Neon tubes 33 completely arranged in carrier 6. The illuminating circuit conductors are indicated at 34, 35, 36. Conductors 34, 35 lead from tubes 33 through opening 32, into and out of socket 3| and into and out of bracket 2l. The conductor 35 is electrically connected to post 29. The conductor 36 is electrically connected to post 33. It is to be understood that the power circuit for the motor is to be suitably interposed in the conductors 34, 35.

The upper face of the top wall 9 of carrier 6 has secured thereto upstanding spaced bridging contacts 38, corresponding in number to the number of the sides of the carrier. Each contact 38 is correlated with and is disposed lengthwise in parallel spaced relation with respect to a side of the carrier. Each contact is disposed in right angular relation with respect to adjacent contacts. The contacts coact with the posts 29, 30 for closing the illuminating circuit at intervals for the purpose of intermittently illuminating the tubes 33 for a predetermined period. The length of a contact controls the extent of the intermittent periods of illumination.

Arranged within housing 26 and supported by the top of the base 2l, as well as positioned adjacent the shaft 22 is an electrical motor 39 having its power current suitably connected thereto. Operated from motor 39 is a reducing gearing 39a which in turn drives through shaft 40, a horizontally disposed Geneva movement 4| having its elements 42, 43 fixed to shaft 40 and its element 44 xed to member 20. The elements 42,

43 are for interengagement with the element 44. The elements 42, 43, 44 coact to revolve carrier 6. Each revolution requires four intermittent impulses with a lapse period of a predetermined duration between each impulse. The contacts 38 are so disposed relative to posts 29, 3ll` that the illuminable means will be active during the lapse period between each impulse.

When movement 4| is active, it provides for the carrier 6 to be revolved for the purpose of shifting a pair of exposed display elements simultaneously to concealed position and the pair of concealed display elements to exposed position. Each display element during one revolution of the carrier is concealed for a predetermined period, then exposed for a perdetermined period at one side of the housing, then concealed for a predetermined period, and then exposed for a predetermined period at the other side of the housing. When a pair of display elements are exposed simultaneously, they are illuminated simultaneously.

It will be stated that the number of impulses for each revolution of a carrier will correspond to the number of sides of the carrier.

The housing which incloses the carrier is anchored to a support 46, such as the front of a building, by suspension devices 4l. The base 21 may or may not be provided with a storage battery from which leads the power circuit for the motor, or the motor circuit may be attached t0 a power line extended into the housing 26.

What I claim is:

l. A sign structure including a hollow upstanding intermittently revoluble carrier provided with spaced illuminable display elements, a socket forming member depending from the bottom of, bodily moving with, and communicating with the carrier, an upstanding stationary shaft extending through the carrier and having its lower portion mounted in and supported by said member, said carrier and member being revoluble about said shaft, a stationary structure enclosing the carrier, member and shaft and having means for supporting the upper end of the shaft and the lower end of said member, said structure being permanently spaced from the carrier and having a pair of opposed open sides for simultaneously exposing a pair of display elements between the intermittent revoluble impulses of the carrier, a driven shaft, and means operated from the latter and connected to said member and to said driven shaft for imparting intermittent revoluble impulses to the carrier.

2. A sign structure including a hollow upstanding intermittently revoluble carrier provided with spaced illuminable display elements, a socket forming member depending from the bottom of, bodily moving with, and communicating with the carrier, an upstanding stationary shaft extending through the carrier and having its lower portion mounted in and supported by said member, said carrier and member being revoluble about said shaft, a stationary structure enclosing the carrier, member and shaft and having means for supporting the upper .end of the shaft and the lower end of said member, said structure being permanently spaced from the carrier and having a pair of opposed open sides for simultaneously exposing a pair of display elements between the intermittent revoluble impulses of the carrier, a driven shaft, means operated from the latter and connected to said member and to said driven shaft for imparting intermittent revoluble impulses to the carrier, illuminable means common to the pair of exposed display elements arranged within the carrier and suspended from said shaft, and said carrier and structure provided with coacting means for making active said illuminable means when a pair of display elements is exposed through said structure.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having said carrier of polygonal form and with its exterior dimensions being materially less than the interior dimensions of said structure, suspension means for said structure adapted to be anchored to a support.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having the said carrier of polygonal form with each of its sides lengthwise thereof formed with an opening, and said elements arranged Within and disposed lengthwise of said carrier, said elements completely closing and being exposible through said openings.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 2 having the said carrier of polygonal form with each of its sides lengthwise thereof formed with an opening, said elements arranged within and disposed lengthwise of said carrier, and said elements completely closing and being exposible through said openings.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 2 having 10 GUILLERMO LPEZ CAsTmLN. 

